“The most rewarding (thing) is when I hear from a member of the disabled community who is excited to read a book in a genre that rarely represents them in a respectful but realistic way, much less as a romantic lead," said author Katie Mettner. "It’s rewarding to know my novels are making a difference in someone’s life.”

Katie Mettner’s upcoming romantic suspense, Butterflies and Hazel Eyes, starts with a meet-cute between an earthy, pollinator-friendly pesticide researcher and a fiery woman with hacking skills. Together the pair must solve an unfolding sinister plot.

In elementary through high school, Mettner wrote short stories to speeches, she said.

“Eventually, a job, husband, and kids took the pen from my hand, and I didn’t write for many years. I always had this one character in my head that I couldn’t shake, though. In 2011, while I was recovering from a below-knee amputation, I decided it was time to write that character’s story.”
That story became her first novel. The Eau Claire native is now on her 50th manuscript. “Every day I get to meet and talk with many wonderful people,” she said.

“The most rewarding (thing) is when I hear from a member of the disabled community who is excited to read a book in a genre that rarely represents them in a respectful but realistic way, much less as a romantic lead. It’s rewarding to know my novels are making a difference in someone’s life.”

The first book of the series releases on April 22. You can preorder a copy or check out more of Mettner’s work at katiemettner.com.